Mike Diamond Sr. of Ridley squeegees excess water off the ice during preparations for a Flyers game last season at the Wells Fargo Center.
(Times Staff / ERIC HARTLINE)

They had been on ice, in a figurative sense, for about the past four months.

Now, they are happy to be back on the ice, in the literal sense, starting this week.

The ice crew for the Philadelphia Flyers, which is filled with Delaware County natives, was as happy as anyone when it heard the news last week that the 113-day NHL lockout was over and the Flyers would soon be playing home games again at the Wells Fargo Center.

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They were happy because, yes, they do love their job, and happy because, yes, the extra money they get paid for each game always helps in this economy.

"It means everything to me," said Kevin Diamond, a Ridley Township resident and ice crew supervisor. "My son is on the crew with us and it's something we look forward to every year. I was losing money, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I'm thankful to be back and so is my son. We work great together."

The elder Diamond is starting his 28th year on the ice crew and he and his son are part of the group that prepares the ice, glass, gates and other things before the games. Along with Kevin Diamond and his son, Kevin Jr., there is Mike Diamond, Kevin's brother, and his son, Mike Jr., also from Ridley Township. Another Ridley Township resident, Ray Wenner, is starting his 14th season on the crew.

"I'm ecstatic, you know," said Wenner. "My kids are graduating this year so the money helps as they are going to college. We got the phone call at 7 o'clock in the morning (on Jan. 6) from the other crew members. We were all ecstatic and calling each other."

The crew also works Arena Football League games for the Philadelphia Soul and the Major League Lacrosse games for the Philadelphia Wings. And there are other events too, such as Disney On Ice.

While those events help and the crew members do have full-time jobs, the extra Flyers money really helps.

"I helped prepare the ice and paint it (for 'Disney On Ice')," Wenner said. "We usually help out with anything that has to do with the ice. But the Flyers, that's where the money is."

But working Flyers games is where the group's heart is.

"I'm happy to be back for everybody on the crew," said the elder Kevin Diamond. "Everybody is a Flyers fan and an NHL fan. We had a void for four or five months and now we won't have to worry about that for eight years (the guaranteed length of the agreement between the NHL owners and players)."

But while the ice crew admits to enjoying being part of the game, the elder Kevin Diamond says they don't just simply watch the game like a fan does.

"We are watching the game, and if something goes wrong on the ice, sometimes we'll spot it before the referees or players spot it," he said. "That way, as soon as they call us on, we are ready to go. We are not there just to kick our feet back. I tell our guys to make sure we are on top of our game. That way if something goes wrong, we know what has to be done out there."

Just like the players, the ice crew will get to take a first run during the Flyers' free public workout at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers open the season at 3 p.m. Saturday in a nationally televised game on NBC against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"It's just going to be a run-through and see where everything stands," Kevin Diamond said of Thursday night. "We have an NBC game on Saturday and we have to make sure everything is where it needs to be. You want to make sure you bring your 'A' game every game, but this time we're going to be in the spotlight. This is the NHL and you have be on top of your game for every game."

The other crew members are Chris Jennings, a Springfield native who lives in South Philadelphia, just across the Delaware County border; Jim Bilotta, a Springfield native who lives in Downingtown and Mark Harrington, who lives in Bucks County.

"I can't wait to be down there Thursday for practice and then Saturday to start the season," said Mike Diamond. "It's great and we definitely have a ball. You can't ask for a better job. We're just looking forward to a Stanley Cup like we've been doing every year."